Carl Johnson

I think we can all agree that the vigilance of the TSA officers is the only thing protecting us from a repetition of the September 11 attacks. Therefore, I was gravely concerned when I saw TSA officers randomly searching bags at the gate. They would point to a passenger and ask him to bring his bag and then they would check it.

These were the SAME BAGS that were screened at the checkpoint! If the TSA officers had to further screen bags at the gate, does this mean the checkpoint didn't do an adequate job of screening the bags? Were the officers at the checkpoint negligent? Are some of them untrustworthy - in thrall to, or in the pay of, terrorist organizations?

Is it safe to fly? Should I stop flying? I think I won't stop for now, but certainly if an officer wants to screen my bag at the gate I'll happily acquiesce, but will certainly ask what went wrong with the checkpoint screening, and maybe call 911 to get law enforcement officers to interview the checkpoint officers. Certainly if the extremely important job of the checkpoint officers is done properly, there should be no need to screen bags at the gate!

I'm really scared!

Caradoc

I don't think that's the problem.

The problem appears to be that the TSA seems to think that not enough people are inconvenienced by the "screening" at the "checkpoint," and so they feel the need to really rub the travelers' noses in "SEE! WE'RE DOING STUFF!" whether or not the "STUFF!" is productive or useful.

BH62

Satire?

Michael El

It's just a "make work" program to justify the Thousands Standing Around. They do it at SNA all of the time.

cynicAAl

a simple "no thanks, I've already been screened" and then just casually walk away usually gets them to annoy someone else.

InkUnderNails

That's my guess.

Carl Johnson

With everything having to do with the TSA, I am as serious as a heart attack. After lying awake all night worrying about it, I don't know why they don't evacuate the terminal if the bags are improperly screened. That's the thing to do. The screening at the checkpoint is our last line of defense against another September 11 style attack! Some random bag screening can't be counted on to stop a terrorist who has slipped past the checkpoint. If a terrorist sees the gate screening, what's to stop him from just leaving his nefarious device to wreak havoc at the gate? Or to take it back to the checkpoint to wreak even more havoc at the densely packed checkpoint queue? Or to take it to baggage claim and drop it on the carousel?

Anyway, if I am asked to have my bag screened at the gate, I will urge that the terminal be evacuated. We passengers are the twentieth layer of defense, and I guess one of the ways we function is to point out to TSA officers problems that they may have overlooked. It worries me, though, to think that the TSA has overlooked weaknesses and problems. For us to be safe, the TSA has to get it right every time.

halls120

This would be your first mistake. TSA has nothing to do with preventing another 9/11 attack.

GaryD

Oh, you're no fun.

ScatterX

You forgot defending our freedoms, inspiring our children through hugs, stickers, and lollypops (but mostly hugs), and achieving unprecedented levels of world peace.

bdschobel

Oh, yeah. I agree with that!

Bruce

coachrowsey

Carl:
The TSA is a ....ing joke.

STBCypriot

Now that would be interesting.

You should not only urge that the terminal be evacuated, you should DEMAND that it be evacuated. You should make your fellow passengers quite aware of your concerns regarding the ability of TSA to do it's job. You should be quite vocal about it. s/o

mbstone

Avoiding gate searches has always been trivially easy, if you think about it.

bdschobel

Interestingly, they were doing gate searches at FLL Terminal 1, Gate C-2 on Thursday, November 7. A passenger waiting in Zone 1 to board felt that I had cut in line before him. I thought he was wrong, but because it didn't matter, I said, "I'm pretty sure we'll all take off at the same time, but you go ahead of me. No problem." So, we start to board, with me right behind him, and he was selected for a gate search! I couldn't believe the irony. He was pulled aside, and I sauntered onto the plane.

Bruce